Agricultural production and air pollution: An investigation on crop straw fires

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303830
• Publication Date: 2024-05-17T17:48:46Z
• Authors: Kai Zhao; Xiaohui Tian; Wangyang Lai; Shuai Xu
• Keywords: Crop Residue

In numerous developing nations, the pervasive practice of crop residue incineration is a principal contributor to atmospheric contamination in agricultural operations. This study examines repercussions such biomass combustion on air quality during autumnal harvest season, utilizing data acquired from satellite-based remote sensing fire events and pollution measurements. Employing wind direction information alongside difference-in-difference fixed-effects methodologies, this investigation rectifies estimation inaccuracies stemming non-random distribution occurrences. The empirical findings reveal that burning precipitates an elevation average PM2.5 PM10 concentrations by approximately 27 22 μg/m 3 period, respectively. Furthermore, attributed prominent grain-producing regions exceeds national 40%. By integrating economic paradigms into agri-environmental inquiries, offers novel insights substantiation environmental expenditures engendered burning, juxtaposed with extant meteorological ecological research findings.